The Championship Chase
Tampa Bay badly needs a win to stay in the race for The Championship. Tampa Bay is three points behind Minnesota United FC and Rayo OKC for fourth place in the Combined Standings. Minnesota United visits the Carolina RailHawks on Saturday night, while Rayo OKC visits the Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Series History
Matches between the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury FC are traditionally very even, with draws by far the most common result by far. Tampa Bay has a 2-4-2 (W-T-L) record all-time against Ottawa all-time. The teams have split their two meetings this season, with the home team winning both games. Tampa Bay beat Ottawa 2-1 in
St. Pete on June 4 and lost 2-0 in Ottawa on July 30.

Rowdies Notes
Joe Cole’s two goals in Wednesday night’s loss to the Indy Eleven made him the Rowdies’ leading points-scorer this season with 25 points off nine goals and seven assists. Georgi Hristov is just behind with 24 points via 10 goals and four assists.

PC is eligible for selection Saturday night after serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation Wednesday night. PC had started seven consecutive games at left back prior to his suspension.

Scouting Ottawa
Ottawa enters this match winless in its last four matches, including three losses in that period. The Fury FC lost 3-1 to Rayo OKC last weekend despite taking an early lead on a goal scored by Giuseppe Gentile. Ottawa then went on to concede three goals to lose.

Carl Haworth leads Ottawa in scoring with seven goals this season, ahead of Gentile and Ryan Williams, who have scored four goals apiece.